Open University Rolling Grant 2009 - 2014
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Physical Sciences
Abstract
The OU Astronomy Group seeks continuation of its Rolling Grant to support a program of observational, theoretical, laboratory and space based astronomical research and instrumentation development. Theme 1 Star formation: This theme aims to understand star formation of our Galaxy and the local universe, focussing on near and far infrared studies. We will pursue four interlinked projects working within our access to the Guaranteed Time data from the AKARI space infrared telescope, the LOFAR radio telescope, and ESO facilities. The projects lie at the heart of star formation astrophysics, building on past work on molecular cloud structure, far-IR astronomy and triggered and high mass star formation. Project 1.1 ASTRO-F Galactic Plane Survey Project 1.2 Massive star and starburst cluster formation Project 1.3 HERSCHEL Survey exploitation Project 1.4 LOFAR Galactic Plane Survey Theme 2 Planetary Astrophysics: This area includes observational searches for Exoplanets; exoplanet characterisation with HST and Spitzer, modelling Exoplanet atmospheres; the interior structure of Exoplanets; and the dynamics and migration physics involved in various planetary architectures; and models and exploitation of data from solar system terrestrial planetary atmospheres. Project 2.1 Exoplanet Dynamics Project 2.2 Exoplanet Structure and Evolution Project 2.3 Solar System terrestrial planetary atmospheres Theme 3 Extragalactic Infrared astronomy & Cosmology: This is an integrated research programme to trace the cosmic evolution of star-forming galaxies using major international far-infrared and submm-wave legacy surveys / key projects. Project 3.1 SCUBA-2 and AKARI Legacy Surveys Project 3.2 The HERSCHEL ATLAS Key Project Project 3.3 The Cosmic Near-Infrared Background Theme 4 Extreme Environment astrophysics: This program explores the interrelation between galactic environment and relativistic object content in nearby galaxies, to provide insights into high-mass star formation, relativistic object formation and high-energy phenomena that cannot be gained from observations in our own Galaxy alone; to study the counterparts of high-energy sources we identify in our X-ray surveys of nearby galaxies; and conduct numerical simulations to model the nature of the accretion flows and the nature of their X-ray populations Project 4.1 Relativistic accretors in nearby galaxies Project 4.2 Characterising compact accreting systems Project 4.3 Magnetic Cataclysmic Variable Populations Theme 5 Laboratory Astrochemistry; Exploring Chemical Complexity: The research is targeted at simulating chemical and physical processes within star and planet formation regions and planetary atmospheres and surfaces; The research programme is focused on two projects (i) exploring the nature of chemical complexity in the ISM and (ii) identification of biomarkers that will be used to exploit extant data, and lead to the identification of robust biogenic biomarker signals in Exoplanet atmospheres and surfaces. Project 5.1 The Chemistry of Star and Planet Formation. Project 5.2 Identifying biosignatures for Exoplanetary studies; Theme 6 Astronomical Instrumentation Development for Space Missions: This proposal aims to promote radiation damage studies for future space missions which are within the STFC programme. The activity includes: a) Laboratory study of radiation damage and other environmental factors affecting scientific instrumentation on space missions, b) To provide low-level support to our collaboration with China on their first national X-ray astronomy mission, HXMT, c) To provide support at the early stage of future project studies, for both space and ground based instrumentation Project 6.1 Laboratory Studies of Radiation Damage (1 PDRA) Project 6.2 Radiation Damage support for the HXMT project
Publications
Davies B
(2009)
CHEMICAL ABUNDANCE PATTERNS IN THE INNER GALAXY: THE SCUTUM RED SUPERGIANT CLUSTERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gebran M
(2010)
Chemical composition of A and F dwarfs members of the Hyades open cluster
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Butters O
(2009)
Circular polarization survey of intermediate polars I. Northern targets in the range 17 h < RA < 23 h
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Molinari S
(2010)
Clouds, filaments, and protostars: The Herschel Hi-GAL Milky Way
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Schneider N
(2012)
Cluster-formation in the Rosette molecular cloud at the junctions of filaments
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Schneider N
(2013)
Cluster-formation in the Rosette molecular cloud at the junctions of filaments ( Corrigendum )
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Christie H
(2012)
CO depletion in the Gould Belt clouds CO depletion in the Gould Belt clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grenfell JL
(2010)
Co-evolution of atmospheres, life, and climate.
in Astrobiology
Eiroa C
(2010)
Cold DUst around NEarby Stars (DUNES). First results A resolved exo-Kuiper belt around the solar-like star ? 2 Ret
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
White G
(2012)
CONFERENCE SUMMARY: THE LEGACY OF AKARI: A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE DUSTY UNIVERSE
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
Serjeant S
(2014)
Constraints on the galaxy 'main sequence' at z > 5: the stellar mass of HDF850.1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Spiga A
(2010)
Correction to: 'Structure and dynamics of the convective boundary layer on Mars as inferred from large-eddy simulations and remote-sensing measurements'
in Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Cockell CS
(2009)
Darwin--a mission to detect and search for life on extrasolar planets.
in Astrobiology
Lewis S
(2010)
Data Assimilation
Kaltenegger L
(2010)
Deciphering spectral fingerprints of habitable exoplanets.
in Astrobiology
Thi W
(2011)
Detection of CH + emission from the disc around HD 100546
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sedgwick C
(2013)
Detection of Ha emission from z > 3.5 submillimetre luminous galaxies with AKARI-FUHYU spectroscopy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Sedgwick C
(2012)
DETECTION OF Ha EMISSION FROM z>3.5 GALAXIES WITH AKARI-FUHYU NIR SPECTROSCOPY
in Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
Matsuura S
(2011)
DETECTION OF THE COSMIC FAR-INFRARED BACKGROUND IN AKARI DEEP FIELD SOUTH
in The Astrophysical Journal
Riviere-Marichalar P
(2012)
Detection of warm water vapour in Taurus protoplanetary discs by Herschel
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Suutarinen A
(2013)
Determination of the far-infrared dust opacity in a prestellar core
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bewsher D
(2010)
Determination of the Photometric Calibration and Large-Scale Flatfield of the STEREO Heliospheric Imagers: I. HI-1
in Solar Physics
Oonk J
(2014)
Discovery of carbon radio recombination lines in absorption towards Cygnus A
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Katajainen S
(2010)
DISCOVERY OF POLARIZED EMISSION FROM TWO SOFT X-RAY-EMITTING INTERMEDIATE POLARS: UU Col AND NY Lup
in The Astrophysical Journal
Gómez Maqueo Chew Y
(2013)
Discovery of WASP-65b and WASP-75b: Two hot Jupiters without highly inflated radii
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Benedict G
(2011)
DISTANCE SCALE ZERO POINTS FROM GALACTIC RR LYRAE STAR PARALLAXES
in The Astronomical Journal
Eiroa C
(2013)
DUst around NEarby Stars. The survey observational results
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bernard J
(2010)
Dust temperature tracing the ISRF intensity in the Galaxy
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Castellanos P
(2011)
Dust-correlated centimetre-wave radiation from the M78 reflection nebula Cm-wavelength continuum in M78
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dvorak R
(2010)
Dynamical habitability of planetary systems.
in Astrobiology
Smoker J
(2011)
Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - III. Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the interstellar medium? Sub-parsec and au-scale structure in the ISM
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tinetti G
(2012)
EChO Exoplanet characterisation observatory
in Experimental Astronomy
Goto T
(2010)
Environmental dependence of 8 µ m luminosity functions of galaxies at z ~ 0.8 Comparison between RXJ1716.4+6708 and the AKARI NEP-deep field
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Arab H
(2012)
Evolution of dust in the Orion Bar with Herschel I. Radiative transfer modelling
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Goto T
(2010)
Evolution of infrared luminosity functions of galaxies in the AKARI NEP-deep field Revealing the cosmic star formation history hidden by dust
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Abergel A
(2010)
Evolution of interstellar dust with Herschel . First results in the photodissociation regions of NGC 7023
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Kinnear T
(2014)
Evolution of prolate molecular clouds at H?ii boundaries - I. Formation of fragment-core structures
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fossati L
(2010)
Explaining the Praesepe blue straggler HD 73666
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Sedgwick C
(2012)
Far Infrared Luminosity Function of Local Galaxies in the AKARI Deep Field South
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Sedgwick C
(2011)
Far-infrared luminosity function of local star-forming galaxies in the AKARI Deep Field-South Far-infrared local luminosity function
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Men'shchikov A
(2010)
Filamentary structures and compact objects in the Aquila and Polaris clouds observed by Herschel
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Hill T
(2011)
Filaments and ridges in Vela C revealed by Herschel : from low-mass to high-mass star-forming sites
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Marchetti L
(2017)
Finding bright z = 6.6 Ly a emitters with lensing: prospects for Euclid
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Naylor D
(2010)
First detection of the methylidyne cation (CH + ) fundamental rotational line with the Herschel /SPIRE FTS
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Van Weeren R
(2012)
First LOFAR observations at very low frequencies of cluster-scale non-thermal emission: the case of Abell 2256
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kirk J
(2013)
First results from the Herschel? Gould Belt Survey in Taurus
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
André P
(2010)
From filamentary clouds to prestellar cores to the stellar IMF: Initial highlights from the Herschel Gould Belt Survey
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Wijesinghe D
(2011)
GAMA/H-ATLAS: the ultraviolet spectral slope and obscuration in galaxies UV spectral slope and obscuration
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mathews G
(2010)
GAS in Protoplanetary Systems (GASPS) I. First results
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Description | This supported a varied programme of astronomical research at the Open University. Outputs have been published in peer-reviewed, and unrefereed papers and catalogues. |
Exploitation Route | These results were rolled into the next Consolidated Grant that was awarded. |
Sectors | Education |
Description | As a basis for a number of Television News interviews on different astronomical subjects As part of Open University Teaching material |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Edinburgh |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Department | Theoretical Particle Physics (PPT) Research Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contribution of expertise; also some travel funds for visits of the collaborator to Durham and Glasgow. |
Collaborator Contribution | A member of Edinburgh University joined an existing project looking at properties of soft gluons in multiparton scattering. This has led to new developments, aided by the combination of complementary expertise. Edinburgh have also contributed with some financial assistance (e.g. accommodation for visits). |
Impact | So far there have been two published research papers (see publications). |
Start Year | 2010 |